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Orioles name Dan Duquette executive vice president of baseball operations

The Orioles today announced that they have named Dan Duquette as Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A veteran of over two decades in baseball operations at the Major League level, including 10 of those seasons as General Manager with the Montreal Expos and Boston Red Sox, Duquette has a proven track record of utilizing strong scouting and player development to construct contending franchises.

"I am pleased to welcome Dan Duquette to the Orioles organization ," said Orioles Majority Owner Peter Aneglos . "With an emphasis on developing players from within as well as acquiring players through the international and trade markets, Dan built the Red Sox and Expos into formidable franchises during his tenures. His record of success, extensive baseball operations leadership and strong scouting background give Dan the experience and skills essential for this position."

Duquette's eight seasons as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Red Sox from 1994 through 2001 included three playoff teams (1995, 1998 and 1999), and his acquisitions helped lay the groundwork for the club's first World Series championship in 86 years in 2004. The club made the playoffs in back-to-back years in 1998 and 1999, the first time in 80 seasons the franchise had accomplished the feat. Seven key contributors (Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, Manny Ramirez, Jason Varitek, Trot Nixon, Tim Wakefield and Johnny Damon) on the 2004 team were acquired during Duquette's tenure. Under his leadership, Boston compiled a .544 winning percentage (695-582).

Duquette showed a commitment to expanding Boston 's reach in the international market, finishing the 2001 season with 12 of the players on the club's 40-man roster born outside the United States. At Boston 's 2002 spring training camp, players from 10 different countries were represented.

The Red Sox minor league system was shaped into a feeder system for the major league club under Duquette's watch, with homegrown players including Nomar Garciaparra, Shea Hillenbrand, Casey Fossum and Trot Nixon making contributions to the team. Future major league players Kevin Youkilis, David Eckstein, Hanley Ramirez and Freddy Sanchez were also drafted or signed during Duquette's tenure. The talent in the Red Sox minor league system also enabled Duquette to trade for Pedro Martinez, and for Boston to later acquire Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett. Red Sox minor league affiliates finished with an overall record over .500 in five of Duquette's last six seasons with the organization.

Prior to joining the Red Sox, Duquette spent six seasons with the Montreal Expos, joining the club as Director of Player Development in October 1987 and being promoted to Assistant General Manager in 1990, followed by a two-year stint as Vice President and General Manager from 1992-1993. At the time of his promotion he was the youngest General Manager in the major leagues. During his six years with Montreal, Duquette was instrumental in assembling Expos teams that contended from 1992-94, acquiring players including Ken Hill, Mel Rojas, Larry Walker, John Wetteland, Marquis Grissom, Jeff Shaw and Pedro Martinez. He also signed stars Vladimir Guerrero, Jose Vidro and Javier Vazquez and named Felipe Alou the first manager from the Dominican Republic in major league history in 1992.

Despite one of the lowest payrolls in baseball, Montreal compiled a 255-183 record (.582 winning percentage) from 1992-94, the best record in baseball over the span. The Expos had baseball's best record in the strike-shortened 1994 season (74-40), a team Duquette constructed. In 1992 Duquette was named The Sporting News Major League Executive of the Year and the UPI National League Executive of the Year, and the Expos were honored as the Topps Major League Organization of the Year in 1993.

Duquette began his career in baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1981, working in the scouting department under former Orioles general manager Harry Dalton. He spent a total of seven years in scouting and player development with the Brewers from 1981 through 1987, the last two as Scouting Coordinator.

In 2003, Duquette founded and built the Dan Duquette Sports Academy, a Massachusetts-based baseball, softball and soccer camp and tournament facility for youth. In 2004, he purchased the Pittsfield Dukes of the New England Collegiate Baseball League and in 2007 Duquette was a founding member and director of player development of the Israel Baseball League.

A native of Dalton, Mass., Duquette, 53, earned a degree in English from Amherst College and played on the school's baseball and football teams.